Quick Facts
Biography
Jacques de Wissant was, together with his brother Pierre, one of the six burghers of Calais. Because of the name, it can be assumed that the brothers are from the village of the same name, Wissant, near Calais.
The plastic
After the historical Jacques de Wissant, the French artist Auguste Rodin created a bronze figure in 1885-1887. She holds the key to the city of Calais in her hand. It is part of his overall sculpture The Burghers of Calais. She can be seen there on the Belfry square.
Version
Between 1884 and 1886 Rodin made nude studies of the six personalities. He then draped them with damp canvas. In this way, he wanted to better reproduce how the human figures looked clothed in sackcloth. Before the final sculpture, Rodin made two models and a study of Jacques de Wissant. He also sculpted a left hand.
